Automobile headlight



Jan. 20, 1931. I COLEMAN 1,789,806

AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT Filed Nov. 6. 1929 Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES HORACE COLEMAN. or CLEVELAND, OHIO AUTOMOBILE HEADLI T Application filed November The object of my invention is to produce a headlight suitable for use on automobiles or other vehicles which will provide sufficient illumination for the driver of the vehicle on which it is mounted without producing a light which is blinding and dangerous to the drivers of approaching vehicles. More specifically, it is my purpose to accomplish this result by providing within the headlight one or more screens of colored transparent material which will prevent direct rays from the headlight reflector escaping from the headlight in allsave a narrow band of light.

For a more complete exposition of my invention reference may be had to the annexed drawings and specification at the end Whereof novel features will be specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section through an improved headlight.

Figure 2 represents a front elevation with parts broken away.

7 Figure 3 represents a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail in cross section through the reflector and screen showing a modification of my device.

Referring to the drawings,

1 represents a yoked or forked standard or support which has at its upper end bearings 2 adapted to receive pivots 3 therein. 4 is the casing which surrounds the headlight. Mounted on casing 4 are pivots 3 and a tongue 85 5 through which bolt 6 passes into connection with the standard 1 and having nuts thereon which serve to pivot the headlight about the pivots 3.

The reflector? may be of parabolic or other suitable shape having a. flange 8 at its outer edge. At the rear of the reflector 7 extends a tube 9 having a slot 10 in the upper portion thereof. Mounted in tube 9 is a socket 11 having a tongue 12 extending therefrom 4 through the slot 10. A bolt 13 extends from outside the casing 4 through the tongue 12 so as to serve as an adjusting screw for moving the socket 11 and the electric lamp 14 mounted therein inwardly or outwardly so as to adjust the filament of the bulb 14 as 6, 1929. Serial No. 405,100.

closely as possible into the focus of the para bolic reflector 7. Casing 4 has at its forward end an inwardly extending flange 15 to which are mounted'holding springs 16; Headlight ring 17 is adapted to be mounted on the forward end of the casing 4 and carries inwardly extending flanges 18 which cooperate'with the'spring l6 and clamp the flange 8 of the reflector 7 t-herebetween. Ring 17 is adapted to carry the forward suitable material.

Mounted within-the reflector 7 is apair of screens20 and 21 which may be of colored glass, preferably green, or other suitable material. These screens are shaped so as to contact with the reflector at one edge and with the front glass or lens at their forward edge and are'so disposed as to leave only a narrow opening in the horizontal plane and somewhat wider side openings from the lower half of-the reflector unshielded. The edges of screens 20 and 21 which contact with the parabolic reflector are guarded by edgings 22 and 23 of rub-V her or other suitable materiahso as to avoid the effects of vibrationand friction betweenthe screens and the reflector. The screens are retained in place in the reflector by springs 24 and 25 which are mounted on the reflector 7 or on the casing 4 in any suitable way, as for example, as illustrated by passing through the reflector 7 and being welded or otherwise fastened to the rear thereof. By means of springs 24-and 25 screens 20 and 21 may be snapped into position in the reflector before ring 17 and the front glass or lens are put into position- Springs 24 and 25 are curved to fit in reflector 7 adjacent the walls thereof. The tension of these springs is so adjusted that when screens 20 and 21 are placed in position springs 24 and 25 press the screens against the curved sections of the reflector 7 and thus hold them in position. The arrows in Figure 1 represent the course of the light rays from the parabolic reflector. By comparison of Figure 1 and Figure 2 it will be seen that only a small number of these rays can pass above the upper edge of plate 21 and beneath the lower edge of plate 20. These rays produce a narrow band of brilliant light which is desirable for illuminating the road. 9

glass 19 or lens of other 00 V Additional direct rays pass by the sides of lower screen 21 and serve to illuminate the sides of the road over which the vehicle is passing. The remaining rays pass through one or other of the colored screens which serve to remove their blinding qualities and therefore make them unobjectionable to the drivers of approaching vehicles. A

The modification shown in Figure 4 consists of a reflector 7 of which the forward part is formed as a true cylinder. Struck up from" this cylindrical portion are tangs 225 which serve to hold the lower screen 21"against' lateral displacement. The forward edge of the screen may be received in an edging 23 of rubher or other suitable material. Two tangs 226 are provided at opposite sides of the reflector and are adapted to be bent down upon the screen when the latter has been slid into place to secure it. By providing a cylindrical portion of the reflector, the screen- 21 can be made to extend completely across the reflector and thus avoid the reflecting spaces at the side shown in Figure 2. The tangs 225 and 226 I are an alternative method of fastening instead of the springs 24 and 25.

Lclaim I A headlight comprising a reflector, a source oflig-htmounted within said reflector, a plurality of screens of transparent colored mate rial mounted within said reflector so asto leave a narrow horizontal band and small lateral spacesfor the escape of direct rays from the reflector and so mounted as to-intercept all other rays from the reflector, edgings of resilient, elastic material interposed between the edges of said-screens'and said reflector, and springs having their ends fastened to said reflectorand curved to fit insaid reflector and adapted to retain said screens in said reflector by pressing said screens again'stsaid reflector adj went the edges of said screens which are in contact-with said-reflector.

J. HORACE COLEMAN. 

